The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts 2007 Data - Pedestrians showed:
In 2007, one fifth (20%) of all children between the ages of five and nine who were killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians. Children ages 15 and younger accounted for 8% of the pedestrian fatalities in 2007 and 23% of all pedestrians injured in traffic crashes. Thirty-six percent of the 354 young (under age 16) pedestrian fatalities occurred in crashes between 3 PM and 7 PM.
Since 1997, 152 school-age pedestrians (younger than 19) have died in school transportation related crashes. Over two thirds (69%) were killed by school buses, 7% buy vehicles functioning as school buses and 24% by other vehicles involved in the crashes. One half (50%) of all school-age pedestrians killed in school transportation related crashes were between the ages of five and seven.
NHTSA Safety Rules for Motorists
Motorists also need to observe traffic safety rules around school buses. In every state, it is illegal to pass a school bus that had stopped to load or unload students. Motorists must learn to stop when the "flashing signal light system" is activated. School bus drivers use this system to alert drivers that the bus is going to stop to load or unload students:
- Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepared to stop their vehicles
- Red flashing lights and extended stop arm indicate that the bus had stopped and that children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red flashing lights are turned off, the stop arm is withdrawn in the bus begins moving before they start driving again.
Motorists should also observe the following traffic safety rules:
- When backing out of a driveway or leaving the garage, watch out for children walking to the bus stop were walking or bicycling to school
- When driving in neighborhoods, especially in school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school but may not be thinking about getting there safely.
- Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially where there are no sidewalks. Watch for children playing and gathering near bus stops.
- Be alert and ready to stop. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.
Fleet Safety Program Tips - Driver Qualification Criteria
While individual driving records don't always predict which drivers will be in crashes, there is a strong relationship between driving records and crash rates for companies. For example, a company that uses cars as well as light and heavy trucks in its operations reviewed the driving records and incident rates for all its drivers. The review findings show that company drivers with zero or one violation on their driving records had an incident rate of one crash for every 13 drivers, while drivers with two or more violations had an incident rate of one crash for every three drivers.
We reviewing driving records, you'll see that the record divides any listed convictions into three groups of violations: moving, serious and disqualify. Moving violations are the most common and include speeding, failure to obey traffic signs or signals, improper turns, driving the wrong way, etc. Serious violations include alcohol or drug related charges, reckless driving, excessive speeding, etc. Disqualifying violations indicate that a driver has a serious disregard for public safety and include evading an officer, felony use of a motor vehicle, speeding in a school zone, crossing railroad tracks against a signal, etc.
Basic driver selection criteria should allow for no more than two moving violations in the past three years, no serious violations in the past five years and an old disqualifying violations. To effectively apply the criteria across the entire organization, you need to document, communicate and consistently enforce it through all levels of drivers. Ensure that anyone in a position that involves driving meets the criteria before getting behind the wheel and that only authorized employees drive on company business. If you select drivers who just meet expectations - as opposed to those with clean driving records - your overall results will not be as good. Having and enforcing driving record criteria shows that the company values safe driving and expects drivers to operate motor vehicles in a safe manner.
Safe Driving Tips - Adjusting Mirrors
Mirrors help you see what is to the sides of and behind your vehicle. Knowing what is around your vehicle helps you "size up the whole scene,"an important step in Decision Driving (TM).
For mirrors to be effective, they:
- Should be checked regularly while driving (every 5 to 10 seconds)
- Must be properly adjusted to give the driver the best view
- Must be clean and in good condition
Adjusting the rearview mirror and a passenger vehicle takes little time and is easy to do.
- Frame the rear window.
- Angle slightly toward the passenger seat for a better view of right rear area, which can be a blind area.
- Adjust the mirror for your height.
- Adjust as you drive (position can change the longer you drive).
- Adjust angle during dark hours for a glare.
Adjusting the side view mirrors may take a little longer but it's also easy to do.
- Adjust the side view mirrors so you do not see your car when sitting in your normal driving position. This reduces the "blind"area.
- Start by sitting in your normal position, and lean your head to 4 inches to the left (for the left mirror).
- Adjust the mirror so you can just barely see the side of your vehicle in the lower right corner of the mirror.
- Repeat the process for the other side, leaning to the right this time.
For additional information, please contact our Loss Control Consulting Center at 866-757-7324 or CSUconsulting@libertymutual.com.